Robert Pero sailed through the Utah Senate confirmation process Friday with a unanimous vote to appoint him to the Utah Tax Commission.

Once the senators made the governor's recommendation official, Pero released a one-sentence letter to the county commission resigning his post as County Clerk/Auditor, effective immediately. That letter ended a term of service in the county office of nearly two decades and began and new phase of his career.

Sen. John L. Valentine (R-Orem) told his colleagues that the Revenue and Taxation Confirmation Committee he chairs held a "robust" hearing on Pero's appointment. The committee forwarded a unanimous recommendation to the full senate.

"We found him to be a qualified candidate and a quality individual," Valentine said.

Sen. David Hinkins (R-Orangeville) welcomed Pero to a new neighborhood in the Salt Lake Valley. "I hope you can breathe the air up here," Hinkins joked.

Pero came to the clerk/auditor's position from Soldier Creek Mine, where he had been accounting and data processing supervisor.

He had also served a stint at Thiokol as a statistical analyst. Pero earned a Master's Degree in computer science and applied statistics from Utah State University and his Bachelor's in business and economics from the University of Utah.

Meanwhile, the county's Democratic Party Central Committee has selected Seth Oveson to replace Pero for the balance of the term.

Party Chair Jason Llewelyn has asked to be placed on the commission's agenda this Wednesday to formally announce the selection and to have the commissioners install Oveson as clerk/auditor.